What are Human Resources?
Human Resources is the department in every business that deals with all aspects of personnel and staffing matters. From hiring and firing of employees, training, and development of talent to dealing with personnel issues and making sure the rights and health, and safety of both employees and the business are protected.
Performance management allows employees to be rewarded for good work while also allowing the business to manage any shortfalls so that a solution can be applied. Human Resources involves planning and identifying the current and future needs of the business and the employees, and making sure the company is protected from any issues that may arise from the workforce.
What courses are available?
Universities and colleges in Ireland are offering courses in the following subject areas:
- Human Resources and Effective Marketing – the study of the effect of Human Resources and Marketing on the success of a business.
- Human Resources Management – the study of the knowledge, skill, and competence in Human Resource Management to promote and maintain health and safety in a work environment.
- Personnel Management and Human Resources – the study of the relationship between people and organizations they work in.
- Human Resources Project Management – the study of Human Resources and building a Project Management team.
- Professional Diploma in HR Management – the study of the tools and skills to go into a professional Human Resources role.
- Administrative HRM Training – the study of managing people individually and as a team.
- Connecting with People – This course is designed for those that want to develop their skill of connecting and communicating with others.
- Law & HR – An introduction to the fundamental principles of Law and Human Resource Management.
- Dignity at Work: Bullying and Harassment Awareness – This course is designed for managers to ensure all employees feel respected in their workplace.
Studying Human Resources in college
Human Resources courses generally cover personnel matters such as recruitment and evaluation, staff training and development, and employee relations. You may also cover employment law, business ethics, and compensation and benefits.
Depending on the type, of course, you choose you can expect to study full-time, part-time, online, or through night courses. Courses typically run anywhere from 1 full day to 3-4 years for more comprehensive programmes and qualifications.
Assessments are largely written and based on theoretical work with assignments, projects, and examinations being the main source of assessment.
Career options
Taking a course in Human Resources will give you the skills for a variety of career paths and job positions. Managing interactions with people is an important skill for any business as is organization, administration, multitasking, presentations, reporting, and communication which are all a part of Human Resource studies.
Human Resources is a very responsibility-heavy department and will often pay generously because of the level of authority involved.
Job satisfaction within Human Resources is very high for those that enjoy helping others and seeing results quickly, such as when someone is hired or promoted or has an increase in salary or benefits.
The field of Human Resources offers a broad range of possibilities due to the nature of the work and while the industries HR professionals work within may be vastly different the day-to-day responsibilities are very similar to common practices making the skills you learn in HR highly transferable and opening up many avenues for employment.
Related jobs include:
- Human Resources Manager
- Human Resources Specialist
- Human Resources Consultant
- Recruiter
- Training & Development Manager
- International Human Resources
- Business Advisor
- Management Consultant
- Career Advisor
- Life Coach
Further study
A course in Human Resources can be the first step towards further study that involves specialization in a specific industry such as Psychology, Communications, Professional Writing or Education which may prove to be helpful in understanding or teaching people from an HR role. Finance or Accounting could be beneficial for HR areas such as compensation and benefits.
FAQ
Are there any particular qualities you need to study Human Resources?
Human Resources is all about people, so people skills are non-negotiable. You should have a helpful, problem-solving nature and solid verbal and written communication abilities.
You will also come into contact with confidential information so high integrity and discretion are needed.
Policies and laws are always being updated or changed with new laws coming in and outdated laws being removed so you must be committed to lifelong learning to stay on top of current legislation and practices.
Why are Human Resources important?
Human Resources is critical to any business that has employees because it makes sure that both the happiness of employees and the productivity and the success of a business are prioritized.
Human Resources stays on top of all employee issues and keeps everything organized and running smoothly and according to the laws and legal practices outlined for businesses.
Where can I study Human Resources?
Explore your options here
Did You Know?
- Colour psychologists have compiled a report for best colours to wear for an interview, they believe the colour blue is soothing and indicates that you are trustworthy.
- The best time of day to ask your boss for a raise is first thing in the morning after they’ve had their coffee or any other morning ritual. Avoid times when they are hungry, about to leave the office, or have meetings scheduled.
- Employees who are engaged and motivated by their work show a 21% better profitability for the company.
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